An echocardiogram is used to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. In fact, it is one of the most widely used diagnostic tests for heart disease. The echocardiogram (ECHO) is an ultrasound video of the heart showing the valves, chamber, walls and blood flow. It depicts the resting function of the heart. This is considered the best and most accurate non-invasive study to obtain a great deal of information about the heart’s size, strength of contraction, areas of muscle weakness, valve function and fluid build-up, areas of past heart attack and the effects of disease processes such as hypertension.
What is this Test for?
There are several reasons why you should get an echocardiogram. This test will allow the HealthFair professional to find out more about your heart and the condition that it is currently in. This test allows you to find out the cause of abnormal heart sounds (murmurs or clicks), whether or not you have an enlarged heart, the cause of unexplained chest pains, shortness of breath and irregular heartbeats. It can check for the thickness and movement of the heart wall, as well as look at the heart valves and check how well they work. It is able to measure the size and shape of the heart's chambers which checks the ability of your heart chambers to pump blood (cardiac performance).
During an echocardiogram, your doctor can calculate how much blood your heart is pumping during each heartbeat. An echocardiogram is also helpful in detecting other diseases that affect the heart muscle and the way it pumps. In addition, it looks for blood clots and tumors inside the heart.
What does this test determine about my health risks?
There are several disease of the heart that may be detected by echocardiography including the following:
How often should I get this test?
Your HealthFair professional can help you to determine how often and when you should get this test. If you exhibit any of the warning signs of the prementioned cardiovascular diseases, then a test would benefit you in regards to maintaining you health status. This test may be needed if:
What should you expect?
An echocardiogram is basically the ultrasound of heart used to diagnose various diseases of heart. With the help of sound waves moving picture of heart can be taken and analyzed by one of our trained professionals. It is a painless and simple procedure without involvement of any radiations. There are no known hazards or risks associated with echocardiography.
What should I wear?
What can I eat?
What happens during my test?
What equipment will be used?
GE Healthcare’s new Vivid i is the miniaturized cardiovascular ultrasound system to provide high-performance, full-featured imaging in a lightweight design.
Vivid i addresses one of the biggest challenges in cardiovascular care – access to complete, real-time diagnostic information. The new system expands the reach of echocardiography by offering all the functionality and high performance of full-featured premium scale systems – but in a completely portable and wireless design that weighs 30 times less.
GE developed Vivid i by miniaturizing the components of a premium echocardiography system weighing more than 180 kilograms to provide a portable system weighing less than five kilograms. Vivid i features wireless functionality, enabling physicians to transfer files instantly from the system to other physicians for consultation, or to the patient’s bedside so that they can be more informed and involved in their healthcare decisions.
MyLab30 CV
The MyLab® 30 CV ultrasound system is an evolutionary step in ultrasound technology. Weighing less than 19 pounds, it is the first compact ultrasound system to deliver premium console performance. And with mobile, portable or stationary configurations, MyLab30 CV can adapt to any clinical environment.
Offering portability and applicability over a wide range of clinical specialties, including anesthesiology, without compromise, MyLab30 CV implements phased array technology for cardiac imaging, linear array for vascular and small parts imaging, as well as curved array and microconvex for general imaging. The system allows for the evaluation of the heart, vasculature and organs of the body with the appropriate transducer technology and the appropriate measurement and analysis packages. The MyLab30 CV also can assist anesthesiologists in Transesophageal Echocardiography, regional nerve blocks, central line placement and other common anesthesia procedures.
Some other features found on MyLab30 CV include:
MyLab30 CV is the perfect combination of size and performance. It offers the portability and adaptability needed in today’s clinical environment without compromising the clinical performance necessary to provide the highest levels of patient care.
Congratulations! You’re ready to schedule your HealthFair screening appointment and, most importantly, you are on the road to better health. Thank you for reviewing the above information. We look forward to screening you soon!